California DREAM Act

The California Dream Act of 2011 is the result of two bills, Assembly Bill 130 (AB 130) and Assembly Bill 131 (AB 131). Together, these bills allow students who meet certain provisions of AB 540 law to apply for and receive private scholarships funneled through public universities (AB 130), state-administered financial aid, university grants, and community college fee waivers (AB 131).

Let’s get started!

Complete the California Dream Act application at https://dream.csac.ca.gov/. This link will allow you to complete a new application and make corrections to an existing application.

OCC school code = 001250

Note: if you are considered a dependent student on the Dream Act application – you should have your parents’ financial information ready and parent signature is required.

AB540 students

AB 540, passed in 2001, allows students who meet all of the following criteria to pay the same tuition and fees as resident students at California public colleges and universities. Starting on January 1, 2013, the California Dream Act extends Cal Grant A & B Entitlement awards, Cal Grant C awards, institutional grants, and community college fee waivers to students who meet these same criteria. To receive Dream Act aid, AB 540 and AB 131 you must:

Graduate from a California high school or pass the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE) or get a General Equivalency Diploma (GED, also called General Educational Development test).

Enroll in at a California Community College.

if required, complete an affidavit stating you have filed (or will file when you are eligible to do so) for proper immigration status.

To get a Cal Grant, you must also meet all other Cal Grant eligibility.

Please see the college Admissions Office to determine if you are AB540 eligible.

Available Types of Aid

Available Types of Aid:

Several types of state and institutional aid are available to AB 540 students as a result of the California Dream Act. Check out the chart below for additional information. You can also visit the appropriate link provided to you on the bottom of this page.

* To apply for any or all of the financial aid programs requiring the California Dream Application, you only need to complete and submit ONE application. **OCC submits GPA Verification electronically for those students with at least 16 completed units of applicable college level courses. **Refer to the GPA Verification Form available on the California Dream Act website, at www.caldreamact.org, to help determine who needs to certify your GPA. If you have further questions, check with your Financial Aid Office.